Interesting TN Law Prohibiting Tracking Devices on Vehicles

Interesting TN Law Prohibiting Tracking Devices on Vehicles

I ran across an interesting TN statute the other day, Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-606, which states in pertinent part that:

It is an offense for a person to knowingly install, conceal or otherwise place an electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle without the consent of all owners of the vehicle for the purpose of monitoring or following an occupant or occupants of the vehicle.

In other words, you should probably think twice before purchasing a tracking device from one of the those “I Spy” type stores in an effort to keep tabs on, or gather evidence against, a spouse or partner.  Not only does violation of the statute constitute a Class C misdemeanor, but I also imagine that any illegally secured evidence would be subject to challenge in civil court as well.  In other words, that smoking gun evidence you think you’re getting from the tracking device might actually end up getting thrown out anyway.… Read the rest

Reminder: Final 2012 Estimated Tax Payment due TODAY! (Jan. 15)

Reminder: Final 2012 Estimated Tax Payment due TODAY! (Jan. 15)

For all you estimated tax filers, here’s a friendly reminder that your next payment (using IRS Form 1040-ES) is due TODAY, January 15, 2013.

NOTE: Estimated taxes are generally paid by self-employed persons, although others are potentially required to file. According to the IRS website instructions: “Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that is not subject to withholding. This includes income from self-employment, interest, dividends, alimony, rent, gains from the sale of assets, prizes and awards. You also may have to pay estimated tax if the amount of income tax being withheld from your salary, pension, or other income is not enough.”

MORE:  Previous Blog Post — What is an Estimated Tax Payment, and Who is Required to Make Them?… Read the rest

Halloween Safety — Homeowners, Trick-or-Treaters, and the Law

How to Prepare This Halloween

Halloween is a great time of year – costumes, hayrides, haunted houses and candy!  However, homeowners should be mindful of the legal responsibilities they owe visitors to their property.

Later this month, homeowners  will have a variety of ghosts, princesses, vampires, and angry birds trick-or-treating at their doorstep.  Halloween night poses many risks for homeowners because you are essentially opening your home and property to the public.  As you may or may not know, you owe what lawyers call a ‘duty of reasonable care’ to each child or visitor that comes onto your property.

Here are some commonsense tips to fulfill your duty of care and protect visitors to your property this year:

1. Keep Your Property Well-Lit – Be mindful that trick-or-treaters will be cutting through all parts of your property to find your front door, so try to make sure that your front porch is adequately lit for them to easily find their destination.  By keeping the path to your home and front step well-lit, you can prevent potential slip-and-falls by trick-or-treaters wondering into

Chancellor Overturns Election, Rules that Millington Referendum Passed (Court Order attached)

Chancellor Overturns Election, Rules that Millington Referendum Passed (Court Order attached)

As we earlier hoped and predicted in previous blog posts here and here, the Chancery Court today overturned the Election Commission’s initial certification and finding that the recent Millington Sales Tax Referendum failed.  The Court further declared that after accounting for the unlawful votes that were cast during the election, the Referendum did, in fact, actually pass.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal report is here.

 … Read the rest